Debate Over Representation



Virginia Plan

James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan. In this plan a powerful president was needed. external image virginiaplan.jpg
  1. Elected for 7 years and could not be elected for a 2nd term
  2. Take care of foreign relations and dictate the army
  3. Executive and Judicial officers would be chosen by the president with the approval of the Senate

Government was given power to tax and regulate trade. There would be three branches of government:the judicial, executive, and legislative branch.There was a Bicameral type government with two houses, Senate and the House of Representatives. The more people the state had the more people they would havein the Houses. State laws could be vetoed by Congress, as well.
Who wanted this plan
Who opposed this plan
Edmund Randolph
James Madison
John Blair
Alexander Hamilton
Larger States
Smaller States
Charles Pinckney
Virginia Plan


New Jersey Plan
William Paterson
William Paterson

William Paterson proposed the New Jersey Plan. This plan is preferred by the smaller states. William Paterson
Congress could manage trade and tax. Much smaller changes were applied to the Articles.
  1. Unicameral legislature - all states are presented equal no matter their size or population
  2. No president, but an executive committee.
  3. Sovereignty would continue in the states except some powers the national government were given.
A loose confederation would be continued.
Who wanted this plan
Who opposed this plan
William Paterson
Smaller States
David Bearly
Charles Pinckney
Larger States
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey Plan
Why was this such a debated topic?
- Each state wanted a successful government
- All of the states had their own ideas and opinions on what would work best
- They all wanted to agree on one form of government
- They didn't want to cause conflict
- Each state didn't want another to over power them
- It was a huge decisions and the media talked about it often
- The conflict was familiar to many of the common people because it involved a lot of their famous war heroes.



People who worked on the solution

Roger Sherman Researched a plan that would compromise the New Jersey and Virginia Plan
John Dickinson Played a key role in creating the Great Compromise by looking at and including the needs and wants of each state
Composing the Great Compromoise
Composing the Great Compromoise


How was it resolved?

The Great Compromise

  • The Senate would equally represent each state, no matter what the size ( 2 Senators per state)
  • The House of Representatives would represent each state according to the population
  • Power was divided between the Federal government and the states

The Great Compromise

Sources used included links shown above and U.S History book
Sources used included links shown above and U.S History book